Examine the Web sites of two companies mentioned in Chapter 8, Industrial Light and Magic [http://www.ilm.com/] and General Electric [http://www.ge.com/]. Then answer these questions:

1. What is each organization's strategy?
   
   
2. Does the organization's strategy fit one of Porter's generic strategies? Where would it fit in the Miles and Snow typology of strategies?
   
   

Internet Exercise
The Today's Management Issues themed insert mentions the lackluster results that Dillard's [http://www.shareholder.com/dillards/] obtained in following its merger with Mercantile. Dillard's faces a host of other challenges, including low consumer spending and a market that is increasingly squeezed by upscale, specialty retailers on one end and discounters such as Wal-Mart on the other end. Visit Dillard's Web site and view their 2002 Annual Report. Then answer the following:

1. Which of Porter's generic strategies is implemented at Dillard's? What information did you use to make your choice?
   
   
2. What type of corporate-level strategy is Dillard's following? What information did you use to make your choice?
   
   
3. Based on your answers to Questions 1 and 2, do you believe these strategies are likely to lead to high performance? Why or why not?
   
   

Explore Further
Examine the Web site of Neiman Marcus [http://www.neimanmarcusgroup.com/], an upscale department store that competes with Dillard's in some markets. View its most recent annual report to compare its business and corporate strategies with those of Dillard's. Which store has the more effective strategy? Why?